By Esther Fung | The Wall Street Journal
Plans for new stores from large grocery chains [such as Phoenix-based Sprouts] likely to spur new development
Grocery chain expansions are likely to spark robust construction in the coming years, analysts said, bucking the overall trend in retail development.
U.S. grocers Publix Super Markets Inc., Wegmans Food Markets Inc., Kroger Co. and Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. as well as German grocery chains Aldi and Lidl are opening new stores and will absorb an estimated 25 million square feet of space over the next five years, according to calculations from commercial real-estate brokerage and advisory firm Marcus & Millichap Inc.
